Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island

Until I was 11 and we moved to the faraway land of Arizona, I lived in a little town called Portsmouth, Rhode Island, 20 minutes from the very famous Newport, home to the Gilded Age mansions.  There wasn't a lot to do in Portsmouth.  The big excitement on a long summer day was walking to Ferreira's corner store, buying candy cigarettes and walking back. 

When I went back for a wedding this summer, I took Andy to see the house I grew up in.  Have you ever done that? It just so happened that the house is being completely gutted and we were able to sneak in! I got to show him my old room.  Everything felt so small and it's incredible how many memories come flooding back.  It was the first time I had actually been in the house in almost 20 years. 

Here's the view from the house.

And here's the actual house being renovated-this little hill definitely felt more like a mountain when I was 5.

The wedding was at a gorgeous Newport grande dame, Castle Hill, which I mentioned here.  I realized I never shared my photos as I was prepping for going back to Rhode Island today for Thanksgiving.  It was everything I remembered. I loved the white adirondack chairs on the lawn, the best view of the Newport Bridge with water that looks like this only in New England, a common area that is a total throwback to the early 1900s without feeling musty, and classic rooms. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Off to Newport for a Wedding

I spent the first 11 years of my life in Portsmouth, a little town on Aquidneck Island 20 minutes from Newport, famous for its Gilded Age Mansions, sailing, historic cottages and that New England sea air.  This weekend, I'm headed back to Newport for the wedding of my oldest friend, Lisa.  Lisa's marrying a great guy, Rob, and we fortunately had the chance to reconnect in New York before they moved to San Francisco.  Lisa's family lived directly behind our house and I practically lived with her growing up.  Her mom would always have art projects, snacks, activities and movies ready for us.

Lisa & Rob are getting married at Castle Hill, one of Newport's most beautiful luxury inns, a Relais and Chateaux property.  Castle Hill is perched over the bright, blue water of Newport (compared to the gray, crashing waters of winter) and really takes you back to a 19th-century Victorian mansion, but modernized and with WiFi, keeping the panoramic vistas.  I can't wait to go back this weekend.